We have developed a computer-aided system (Bony Parts) to analyze periodic bands in fish otoliths (or other structures) for age estimation. The image analysis program first scans the image of a thin otolith section, perpendicular to the bands specified by the user. Adjacent scans are averaged and filtered with Fourier transformation or spatial domain convolution. Bands of higher density are detected and are marked and summed on the screen. We evaluated this new technique using subsamples of thin-sectioned otoliths from the bank rockfish Sebastes rufus. The time and effort for cleaning, preparation, sectioning, and mounting are the same for both traditional and computer-aided techniques. The computer-aided technique reduced the time and tedium of counting bands, yet still allowed the user to interactively make subjective decisions about aging criteria. Both approaches produced similar readings, but computer-aided estimates were more precise than traditional readings and required less analysis time. Thus, this new technique allows sample size and precision to be increased for a given amount of effort. Use of this new technique to age 1,897 sections produced von Bertalanffy growth equations that indicate female bank rockfish grow to a larger theoretical maximum size than males (L1 = 500.7 mm versus 438.1 mm total length) but grow at a slightly slower rate (K = 0.054 for females versus 0.073 for males., Cited By (since 1996):11,
Fish and Fisheries, CODEN: TAFSA, ,

Scientific information is often interpreted to the public long after it has been discovered. NOAA programs and private organizations are interested in more immediate sharing of information with the public so that it can be more effectively used in resource management. The Davidson Seamount is an underwater volcano off the coast of Central California, and recent advances in technology provide the opportunity to explore and characterize the biology of this deep-sea habitat. With an interdisciplinary team of scientists, outreach specialists, and resource managers, this exploration was presented to the public as it was happening with daily updates on a web site. The public also interacted by e-mail with the explorers during the expedition. Huge corals and sponges, deep-water fishes, and the technology needed to study this deep, dark habitat particularly engaged the public, resource managers, and scientists alike. Following the cruise there was national media interest in discoveries from the expedition, not only because the findings were spectacular, but because significant efforts were made to provide the media with access to the explorers and images of the findings. Resource managers are already using summary information from the cruise in processes that may potentially protect Davidson Seamount habitats. Even before the scientific data has been completely analyzed, the public and resource managers have been engaged in a healthy process of information sharing. In characterizing the biology of Davidson Seamount, we found that this model of an interdisciplinary expedition effectively integrated new scientific information into public understanding and management options for a unique area., , ,

Techniques for enhancing vertebral bands in age estimation of California elasmobranchs

Description

Vertebrae from 1,152 elasmobranchs representing 22 species were collected between 1979 and 1981 to assess methods of enhancing incremental growth bands for age estimation. Thus far, we have tested methods previouslyreported in the literature, and have developed new procedures to enhance growth increments on 684 individuals of 14 species of elasmobranchs. Silver nitrate impregnation, X-radiograpby, and cedarwood oil clearing were the most successful techniques. Less effeetive were alizarin red staining, paraffin impregnation, alcohol immersiorn, and formic acid etching. Methods for preparing vertebrae and enhancing and counting growth increments are presented, and the problems associated with interpreting tile annual nature of such counts are discussed.

The deep-sea as a final global sink of semivolatile persistent organic pollutants? Part I: PCBs in surface and deep-sea dwelling fish of the North and South Atlantic and the Monterey Bay Canyon (California),

Description

The understanding of the global environmental multiphase distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as a result of the physico-chemical properties of the respective compounds is well established. We have analysed the results of a vertical transport of POPs from upper water layers (0-200 m) to the deepwater region (>800 m) in terms of the contamination of the biophase in both water layers. The contents of persistent organochlorine compounds like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish living in the upper water layers of the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic, and at the continental shelf of California (Marine Sanctuary Monterey Bay and its deep- sea Canyon) are compared to the levels in deep-sea or bottom dwelling fish within the same geographic area. The deep-sea biota show significantly higher burdens as compared to surface-living species of the same region. There are also indications for recycling processes of POPs - in this case the PCBs - in the biophase of the abyss as well. It can be concluded that the bio- and geo phase of the deep-sea may act similarly as the upper horizons of forest and grasslands on the continents as an ultimate global sink for POPs in the marine environment. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd., Cited By (since 1996):56, Ecology,
Fish and Fisheries, CODEN: CMSHA, ,

Big Creek Marine Ecological Reserve (BCER), located off the central California coast, has been closed to fishing since January 1994. We used side scan sonar and an occupied submersible to collect baseline information on species-habitat relationships, density, and species and size composition of fish inside and outside BCER. Forty-three dives were made in the fall of 1997 and 1998, at depths of 20-250 m. From 142 video transects, we identified over 70,000 fish from 82 taxa, including 36 species of rockfish. About 93% of the 25,159 fish inside BCER were rockfishes representing at least 20 species. Young-of-the-year rockfishes dominated rock outcrops in 20-90 m depth inside and outside BCER. Four distinct fish assemblages were associated with (1) fine, smooth sediment in deep water; (2) bedrock with uneven surface in deep water; (3) sand waves and shell hash in shallow water; and (4) boulders and organic habitats on rock in shallow water. There were no significant differences in fish density among locations (inside and outside BCER) and depths or between years. Density was significantly higher in high-relief rock habitat than in low-relief soft and mixed sediments, regardless of location. There were no consistent patterns of larger fish inside compared to outside the protected area. We recommend development of a monitoring program to continue these surveys after increased time of protection and with increased assessment effort in the appropriate habitats of economically valuable species. In addition, extending the boundaries of BCER seaward would protect habitats and fish in water depths greater than 100 m., Cited By (since 1996):18, , , Downloaded from: http://calcofi.org/publications/ccreports.html (05 June 14).

The American Fisheries Society (AFS) recommends that regulatory agencies give shark and ray management high priority because of the naturally slow population growth inherent to most sharks and rays, and their resulting vulnerability to overfishing and stock collapse. Fisheries managers should be particularly sensitive to the vulnerability of less productive species of sharks and rays taken as a bycatch in mixed-species fisheries. The AFS encourages the development and implementation of management plans for sharks and rays in North America. Management practices including regulations, international agreements and treaties should err on the side of the health of the resource rather than short-term economic gain. The AFS encourages the release of sharks and rays taken as bycatch in a survivable condition. Regulatory agencies should mandate full utilization of shark carcasses and prohibit the wasteful practice of finning. Multilateral agreements among fishing nations, or management through regional fisheries management organizations are sorely needed for effective management of wide ranging shark stocks. The AFS encourages its members to become involved by providing technical information needed for protection of sharks and rays to international, federal, state, and provincial policy makers so decisions are made on a scientific, rather than emotional or political, basis., Cited By (since 1996):89, Fish and Fisheries, ,

Beam trawl, camera sled and submersible data from 2 000-3 300 m off central California produced similar fish faunal composition, but different density estimates. All species caught in trawls were observed in camera-sled and submersible observations. However, some rare species that were observed were not caught in trawls. The fish fauna was dominated by the families Macrouridae, Zoarcidae, Moridae, and Rajidae. Fishes both trawled and observed were the macrourids Coryphaenoides armatus, C. filifer and C. leptolepis; the zoarcids Bothrocara spp., Pachycara lepinium and Lycenchelys spp.; the morid Antimora microlepis; the rajid Bathyraja trachura, the ophidiid Spectrunculus grandis, and the liparidid Careproctus ovigerum. One unidentified liparidid (Paraliparis sp.) and two unidentified Lycenchelys spp. were trawled and may have been seen but also could not be identified to species from photographs. Observed only in photographs were the liparidids Paraliparis rosaceus and Careproctus melanurus, synodontid Bathysaurus mollis, and notocanthid Notacanthus chemnitzii. These three techniques differed in their ability to provide specimens for accurate identification, counts, and later life history (feeding habit, age and growth, and reproduction) studies, and to provide information on dispersion, habitat utilization, behavior and interactions. Accurate density estimates were undoubtedly hampered by trawl and camera sled avoidance, escape, and uncertainties concerning the area trawled. Camera sleds produced higher (and perhaps better) estimates of density. Submersible observations from the DSV Alvin produced a similar species list but little additional, quantitative information. Both visual techniques allowed habitat characterization, but no strong faunal associations with habitat types were observed., Cited By (since 1996):29, CODEN: OCACD, ,